Category Archive for Scottish Fold Kawaii
Toronto Goth fashion & travel guide! Gloomth clothing, 2013 Tokyo Japan Gothic Halloween party.
Notice something different? Haircut! My head feels much lighter; my stylist took off several inches. I think it’s a fresher look, what do you think?
Halloween is near and I have big travel plans, which I will announce soon. Until then, let’s get in the mood with a guide to Gothic Toronto below. And if you’re in Tokyo on October 12, you can’t miss my dear Yukiro’s Spooktacular party… Read to the end for your VIP invitation!
I shot these photos in Vancouver (Robson Square Eagle statue). The rain gave me an excuse to pop open my Hyoma eyeballs umbrella from Izzue Hong Kong.
Studded silver and black top: by my friend and Hong Kong designer, Spider by Natalie Lam. Those of you with sharp memories might recall I wore this as a dress on The Doctors (medical daytime TV show where I spoke about bagelheads). Dorothy Perkins makes a similar studded dress.
Mary Jane shoes: Demonia. They also make sexy buckle boots.
Little black purse with metal chain: got it at the Izzue Hong Kong store. Very similar to this See by Chloe purse.
Red lipstick: Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist, one of my favorite cosmetics brands.
Eyeshadow: purple, black and white shades from the new “Cold Chemistry” collection by Sugarpill Cosmetics – thanks Shrinkle, I love your makeup!
Now, for my guide to Toronto Goth fashion and nightlife. Over the past few years, I became friends with Taeden Hall, designer of a dark and romantic clothing label called Gloomth & the Cult of Melancholy. (Remember I wore her dress to the Luisaviaroma Firenze4Ever dinner?)
Gloomth is based in Toronto, and has a cult following among Gothic Lolita and Victorian fashion lovers. To get the scoop on the Ontario Gothic community, I chatted with Taeden and her friend Laura (editrix of online magazine Morbid Outlook, DJ, and director of tribal fusion bellydance troupe, The Serpentina North Ensemble).
How did you first become interested and involved in Gothic underground fashion and subcultures in Toronto?
TAEDEN: Honestly, I had never heard the word “gothic” until I was about 17/18 years old, this was before the Internet was widely available. I had no clue that there were people out there that looked and felt like I did. I didn’t really have a name for the style I wore, it was heavily influenced by really bad vampire books and even worse movies. I moved to Toronto officially when I was 18 and was already fascinated by Gothic culture and fashion, so the first thing I did was walk right up to the first “Gothy” girl I saw at my university and made her be my friend. It sounds so lame now but honestly that’s exactly how it happened. I’m a doofus. She and I started going to the local clubs/events and meeting more like-minded people.
LAURA: I’ve been kicking around the Goth scene in the US back when I was a teenager (early 90s); I moved to Toronto over 3 years ago because I feel very at home in this city.
Can you tell me how the Gothic scene in Toronto originated and evolved? Are there aspects that are distinct to this movement?
TAEDEN: I read once that a major city is one that has a minimum of 10 full-time Goths. As for the scene developing in Toronto, I think it came about as it did in many North American urban centers – sort of an offshoot of punk and New Wave – from “new romantic” to “Gothic”. Eventually you get enough people feeling the same way and they open clubs and spaces to congregate in – thus the subculture expands. I think Toronto’s “Gothic” scene was really tight-knit for a very long time, the same people running the same events and hosting the same shows. I also think the scene here was really connected to the underground art scene also, which is true of many subcultures.
LAURA: Toronto has been a big EBM town for 10-15 years and there’s a strong cybergoth contingent, although the trad Goth and deathrock scene is making a revival.
How would you describe Gothic fashion in Toronto? Which styles, brands, looks are popular? Has it changed over the years?
TAEDEN: What’s considered “Gothic” now is nothing like what was considered so when I moved here. I think there’s more of a mainstream influence on the culture and fashion than there has ever been. The internet makes it incredibly easy to find the clothing and the music, which was not the case 10+ years ago. At the clubs you see everything from decked out cyber and fetish kids to casual black-skirt-black-top girls. On the streets it’s definitely less dramatic for the most part, lots of big boots and short skirts, babydoll t-shirts printed with whatever comic/movie/slogan/band/thing.
LAURA: Cybergoth complete with big dreadlocks/plastic tubing hair and platforms is very prominent among the younger generation here. Big boots and short skirts are also a very Toronto look.
Can you recommend some Toronto or Ontario-based Gothic clothing brands, designers and shops?
TAEDEN: Artifice clothing is the first that comes to mind, others include Futurstate and Borderline Plus – and of course, us, Gloomth.
LAURA: Designers include Gloomth, Plastik Wrap, and Futurstate, while stores would include Borderline.
What is the Toronto alt/EBM/fetish club and bar scene like?
TAEDEN: The Goth club scene in Toronto is somewhat sparse. There are some really well-attended fetish nights in the city but the “Gothic” club scene mainly involves the same couple of nights at the same places. “The Velvet Underground” (Queen St. West) has a decent night on Thursdays and lots of people attend “Neutral” on Fridays/Saturdays – others include and “Bovine Sex Club”.
LAURA: Velvet Underground on Thursdays and Neutral on Fridays are great for dancing, but the fashion is very casual. The best dressed can be found at fetish events like Fetish Masquerade and Subspace alt and body mod club.
What do you predict for the darkwave scene in Toronto? Is it growing, changing?
TAEDEN: It’s hard to predict where the scene is going in Toronto. It would be great if people could get some new nights and events going, but it’s always hard to get everyone on the same page and people are notoriously reluctant to try new places. I think “Gothic” style is going to keep being subdivided into a multitude of categories and tribes within those.
LAURA: Definitely. As I mentioned earlier, I think things are coming full circle and the traditional Goth/Goth rock/romantic and deathrock looks and music are being revived and inroduced to a new generation.
(The four watermarked photos are courtesy of Gloomth – check their Facebook page for upcoming events, such as tea parties.)
Now, for a Japanese event. Are any of you in Tokyo on Saturday, October 12? Then you must celebrate Halloween with my evil queen.
Yukiro is debuting a Goth-Glam party, Die Schwarze Frau presents: A Halloween Spooktacular. This night of terror includes performances by Japan’s darkest bands and DJs (see flyer above).
Yukiro will be doing up to EIGHT costume changes throughout the night, including cosplays of famous Gothic divas. There will be a pro photobooth, and dress up contest featuring a dance-off-duel. Prizes include about $500 US worth of plane tickets… you don’t want to miss this chance to jet-set.
Here are all the details you need to party with Yukiro and friends.
When: 2013.10.12 (Saturday). Opens 4pm, starts 4:30pm.
Where: Morph Tokyo in Roppongi (district of Tokyo, Japan)
Entrance: ￥3000 with a drink ticket included. If you wear a costume, it’s ￥2000 and you get a drink ticket.
RSVP & more info: On this Facebook page
What will you be doing this Halloween? Have you figured out a costume yet?
Check back soon for my All Hallow’s Eve plans… as you might have a chance to celebrate with me! Any guesses about where I will be?
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Gothic Lolita EGL meetup in Vienna, Austria. St Stephen’s Cathedral, Go With Oh rental apartment.
V-signs! One of my favorite Eurail-Vision trip memories was meeting up with the ladies of Lolita Fashion Austria.
Read on for the story of the European EGL (elegant gothloli) gathering.
Some female travelers don’t bother to do their makeup when they’re on the road… but I’m not one of them! It’s simple enough to save space by packing travel-size cosmetics, such as these professional brushes by Sigma Beauty. They have colorful vegan brushes and compact eyeshadows too. (More of my travel must-haves are outlined here.)
It was one of the hottest days of the year, so I wore sheer fabrics. The Goth corset top and skirt are by Spider, Hong Kong. My sheer black blouse is similar to this one available online.
Go With Oh put my film team and me in this gorgeous Vienna apartment. Remember when Rock n Roll Bride and I stayed in one of their Prague apartments?
If you’re traveling with a few friends, my number one tip is to stay in an apartment rental. It saves money and feels more like home, but is far more private and luxurious than a hostel. Our Vienna flat, for example, had a kitchen and four beds, and would cost under US $200 a night (or $50 per person!)
After booking the apartment, we emailed with the owner and coordinated a check-in time. She gave us a tour; the place had all the necessities, including towels and WiFi. To check out, we simply left the keys on the table and closed the door behind us.
I hope you’ll give my friends Go With Oh a spin; they have thousands of apartments to rent all over Europe, including hundreds in Vienna.
All dressed up — now, where to go? We rode the subway to St. Stephen’s Cathedral in District 1. What a sight: dozens of Lolitas in lace and bows, gathered in front of the gates.
On the far right is my friend Nana of the band Lolita KompleX (you may recognize her from the previous Vienna post).
Posing with Pato. Everyone we met was lovely; the Lolitas here are very inclusive and kind.
I loved seeing the variety of outfits, inspired by Japanese subculture style. These included Kodona or Ouji, an aristocratic meets Gothic “boy style” often seen in Jrock.
There were lots of pastels, ruffles, and Victorian doll elements.
The Lolitas took turns standing in front of the metal church gates, which created the ideal backdrop. Everyone got a chance to pose for pictures individually and together.
As you are probably aware, Lolita fashion originated in Japan, but takes inspiration from the historical clothing of Europe (like Victorian, Rococo). How neat to see this Japanese street-style cross the ocean and blossom in Austria, the home of Marie Antoinette!
You can compare the Western Lolitas’ coordinate with those of Tokyo Gothlolis.
Some attendees travel long distances for these Austrian EGL meetups, which occur several times a year. (One girl came all the way from France.) After taking photos, the ladies visited a museum together, and ended the afternoon at a sushi restaurant.
One of the best aspects of blogging is that it connects you to people around the world. I’ve known the lady in teal, Dani, online for years (she was profiled my old Gothloli of the Week feature). Now, thanks to my travels, we were able to finally meet in person.
There was a positive energy at the meetup; it’s always wonderful when people with shared interests or lifestyles can celebrate together. (My filmmakers, Melissa Rundle and Eric Bergemann, took all these photos.)
One of these things is not like the other… Can you spot the sore thumb?
On Lolita Fashion Austria’s Facebook page, you can learn about upcoming Loli events and meetups. Don’t be afraid to join their next one; the leaders keep the group drama-free.
Afterwards, we cooled off by getting ice cream and vegan sorbet at the much-loved Eis Greissler (Rotenturmstraße 14). Be prepared for a long line up, and try pouring pumpkinseed oil on your scoop as the locals do.
We ended up at Hofburg Palace, the former residence of Austrian rulers including the imperial Hapsburgs. Nearby is the “Mumok” Museum of Modern Art, which turns into a lively outdoor space in the summer, with drinks and live DJs.
So much great footage coming up in our travel video. I hope you’re enjoying the mix of my “old school” coverage (Lolita fashion) with the current emphasis on alternative city culture.
Have you ever been to a Lolita meetup? What do you think of the dresses and styling in this post?
Speaking of monarchy… there are plenty of new photos of my royal cat, Basil Farrow, on his Scottish Fold blog. For daily images, add our social networks (@lacarmina on Twitter, Instagram, etc) from the top-right links in the sidebar.
Have a cute weekend!
LA CARMINA
